Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith .

We have here the last effect of Timotheus message, upon the Apostle, it put him upon Prayer for these Thessalonians, exprest by the assiduity of it, night and day, &c. that is in a constant course; as we noted before chap. 2.9. And by the fervency of it, exceedingly, or excessively. The greek word cannot well be Englished, yet often used by the Apostle when he would express any thing with an emphasis, as Eph. 3.20. and in this Epistle, chap. 5.13.

And by the matter of it; That he might see their face, and perfect that which was lacking in their Faith. Though his Epistles might avail towards it, yet his personal presence would do more. There is a peculiar blessing attends oral Preaching, more then reading. The like Prayer he made, with respect to the Romans, and upon the same account also Rom. 1.10, 11. Though the Apostle had before commended their Faith, yea there was something lacking in it. No Faith is made perfect at first; yea the best Faith may have some defects. And the word is used else where to signifie something that is wanting, or left behind, 1 Cor. 16.17. and Col. 1.24. and their Faith might be defective as to the matter of it, some mysteries of Faith they might not yet understand, as the Disciples did not, till after Christs Ascension, and some of the Corinthians a while doubted the Doctrine of the Resurrection, 1 Cor. 15.12. &c. 2. As to the clearness of it with respect to the Truths they did already know and believe. 3. As to the lively operations and fruits of it. The former defects are removed by Doctrine, the last by Exhortation, and Comfort, and the Apostle desired to see their face on the account of both: And to perfect a thing is to make it compleat both as to parts and degrees. The word here used we find it oft in the New Testament, 2 Cor. 13.11. Gal. 6.1. &c. and variously rendred in the several translations, but yet much to the same sense; the Apostle being so suddenly driven from them, he left them as an house half built; but his affection to them was so great, that he longed to return to them for the perfecting of their Faith, though he had met but a while before with such great perils at Thessalonica.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 1.10, [illegible: 1 letter]